After the semi-misfire of their first release The Strokes
were in a tricky position with the release of their second. If they were to pull more of the same
Blondie / Iggy / Lou Reed antics the criticism of them merely being a hyped
psuedo-tribute band would be resurrected and if they didn’t then… what? With Room On Fire they make a decent
stab at finding out. Thirty five minutes of straight to the point
squawling, dirty, petrifying pop. Lead crooner Jake Casablancas sings
even more as if he could give less of a fuck and sounds throughout more like a rusty power
tool than a human being. The rhythm guitars retain some of their No Wave
sensibilities but it’s the lead guitar’s uncanny imitation of a 1983 model
Casio keyboard playing melody after melody without a care in the world
which marks this record’s most musical shift. All in all it is a damned sight
better than it’s predecessor ever was and makes the neat move of sounding like The Strokes instead of the
various other bands mentioned. The Tron-inspired video for '12:51' is still shit though.
Rating: 3 out of 5 (Silver)
Reviewed by Gordon Peppard
After the semi-misfire of their first release The Strokes
were in a tricky position with the release of their second. If they were to pull more of the same
Blondie / Iggy / Lou Reed antics the criticism of them merely being a hyped
psuedo-tribute band would be resurrected and if they didn’t then… what? With Room On Fire they make a decent
stab at finding out. Thirty five minutes of straight to the point
squawling, dirty, petrifying pop. Lead crooner Jake Casablancas sings
even more as if he could give less of a fuck and sounds throughout more like a rusty power
tool than a human being. The rhythm guitars retain some of their No Wave
sensibilities but it’s the lead guitar’s uncanny imitation of a 1983 model
Casio keyboard playing melody after melody without a care in the world
which marks this record’s most musical shift. All in all it is a damned sight
better than it’s predecessor ever was and makes the neat move of sounding like The Strokes instead of the
various other bands mentioned. The Tron-inspired video for '12:51' is still shit though.